In honor of Women’s History Month, the Virginia Chamber would like to recognize and celebrate the many women in Virginia’s business community for their significant impact on our Commonwealth and nation. The leadership shown by these women not only supports the continued growth and innovation of our Commonwealth, but also serves as inspiration for our young Virginians and future female leaders.
Over the last two weeks, the Chamber has reached out to many of Virginia’s leading women in business and asked the following question, “What is one piece of advice you would give to young women just starting out in their careers?”
Below you will find an outline of the responses we have received. We would like to thank these women for their vital leadership in Virginia’s business community and within the Virginia Chamber and Chamber Foundation. Their significant contributions to our Commonwealth support its continued growth and success and we encourage you to review their inspiring words of advice below. Studies show organizations benefit from a diverse and inclusive work environment and the Virginia Chamber remains committed to our efforts to support greater diversity, equality of opportunity, and inclusiveness.
Former Virginia Chamber of Commerce Board Chairs:
Paige Clay
Title: Senior Partner
Organization: Mercer
2020 Virginia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Chair and current Virginia Chamber Executive Committee and Board of Directors Member
Advice: “Build yourself a board of directors to help you with your career. What do I mean by this? Pick 5-6 people to be on your board – all ages, different genders, different races, and experiences. You are looking to build a network of people who can support your personal and professional growth by being a sounding board, a mentor, a coach, and are willing to push your thinking through regular interactions. The key to success is that this is a two-way street, you need to give them something in return. An example is acting as a reverse mentor to them on technology or social media. If you don’t have these people in your network currently, seek them out and ask for their support. Look for leaders at your company, in the community, and through your personal network (older friends or friends’ parents). Explain what you are trying to achieve and then offer something in return that will be valuable to them, like the reverse mentor role.”
Suzy Kelly
Title: CEO
Organization: Jo-Kell, Inc.
2018 Virginia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Chair and Virginia Chamber Board Member
Advice: “It’s best to own whatever is valuable to you, including your own small business. Own your business. Own your time. Control your life. But always consider motherhood as a career choice that is uniquely rewarding with benefits that are priceless.”
Virginia Chamber Board of Directors Members:
Nicole Barranco
Title: Senior Director Government Relations
Organization: Volkswagen Group of America
Virginia Chamber Board of Directors Member
Advice: “One of the traits I appreciate most from my young colleagues is showing enthusiasm in work opportunities. It demonstrates interest in your work product, in your team, and in your profession. I am far more inclined to direct special projects to an enthusiastic coworker.”
Katharine Bond
Title: Vice President of Public Policy and State Affairs
Organization: Dominion Energy
Virginia Chamber Board of Directors Member
Advice: “As a young woman starting your career, and even as you continue to advance, it’s important to constantly seek out and listen to the lessons provided by mentors, especially when their advice might not be what you want to hear. There is always so much more to learn and perspectives to gain. As you advance, do what you can to return the favor and help others grow and thrive.”
Janice Crawford
Title: Director, Safety, Security & Loss Prevention
Organization: Framatome, Inc.
Virginia Chamber Board of Directors Member
Advice: “To set goals and have a plan while staying open and flexible, being ever-ready to embrace the many unexpected opportunities presented along the way, which are all gifts from your persistence, determination, and courage.”
Susan Dewey
Title: Chief Executive Director
Organization: Virginia Housing
Virginia Chamber Board of Directors Member
Advice: “Look for mentors that are a good match – both professionally and personally. Then, pay it forward – become a mentor for other women. It’s so important for women to support each other and recognize what it takes to balance work and family.”
Terry Ellis
Title: Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs
Organization: Comcast
Virginia Chamber Board of Directors Member
Advice: “Leaders look for people that see challenges as opportunities and are eager to take on new tasks. So, be open to unexpected opportunities that might not have been part of your original plan as there’s always something to be learned from every experience.”
Tammy Finley
Title: Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Organization: Advance Auto Parts
Virginia Chamber Executive Committee and Board of Directors Member
Advice: “Don’t be afraid to speak up and volunteer to take on projects or assignments that you may not be fully comfortable with handling just yet. Stretch assignments often provide excellent on the job learning and allow you to push yourself to acquire new skills, take risks and build new relationships outside of your current work circle. Playing it safe works but it may slow down your career progression – trust in yourself to push your limits and take on new challenges!”
Arlene Lee
Title: CEO/Principal
Organization: R. E. Lee Companies
Virginia Chamber Board of Directors Member
Advice: “Find your voice. If you don’t, someone else will speak for you and you might not like what they have to say.” & “Be Bold. Be Fearless. Be You.”
Charlene Hughes Mowery
Title: Director, Strategic Initiatives
Organization: Red Hat
Virginia Chamber Board of Directors Member and Innovation and Technology Executive Committee Co-Chair
Advice: “Choose the people around you and your work environment based on your ability to be “happy” (whatever that means to you – love what you do) and to achieve professional success (be relevant to your company’s business, meaningful). Join groups with high degrees of diversity – exchange ideas with others who are different from you (joint learning), and find a mentor you trust and respect.”
Connie Nyholm
Title: Owner & CEO
Organization: Virginia International Raceway
Virginia Chamber Board of Directors Member
Advice: The advice I would give young women starting out in their careers is “Know your strengths and weaknesses to persistently team up with people who complement them.”
Virginia Scattergood
Title: Director, Legislative Affairs and State & Local Government Relations
Organization: Northrop Grumman Corporation
Virginia Chamber Board of Directors Member
Advice: “Be persistent and flexible. You may be surprised where your experiences and networks take you.”
Jennifer Siciliano
Title: Chief External Affairs Officer
Organization: Inova
Virginia Chamber Executive Committee and Board of Directors Member
Advice: “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and certainly don’t let making them hold you hostage. Learn from each experience life throws at you and continue to grow at each and every stage of your career.”
Linda Stanley
Title: President Bank of America Charlottesville SVP & Market Executive – Greater Virginia Commercial Banking
Organization: Bank of America
Virginia Chamber Executive Committee and Board of Directors Member
Advice: “The advice that I give to young women starting out in their career…Be True to yourself, treat everyone with respect and the way that you would like to be treated.”
Terrie Suit
Title: CEO
Organization: Virginia REALTORS
Virginia Chamber Board of Directors Member
Advice: “Select an area in your field to become the subject matter expert. Then make yourself a resource on that topic. you will be respected for your knowledge and expertise and it will make you a credible colleague and someone others will want to help promote. Look for opportunities to contribute back to your organization. Volunteer for the tough projects others don’t want to take on. Always do a thorough job and make your work product exceptional, not just satisfactory. Be the professional others know they can count on to meet deadlines on time and early. You will go far in your field when others respect you as a professional.”
Maria Tedesco
Title: President
Organization: Atlantic Union Bank
Virginia Chamber Board of Directors Member
Advice: “My advice to young women is to be bold, ask for stretch assignments, say yes to opportunities and, lastly let your voice be heard.”
Lakshmi Williams
Title: General Counsel, North America
Organization: Transurban
Virginia Chamber Executive Committee and Board of Directors Member
Advice: “Be careful about succumbing to ‘imposter syndrome’—it’s easy to think early in your career, or frankly throughout your career, that you don’t know enough to make a meaningful contribution to a specific project, or that someone else on the team is more of an expert. Do your homework, listen thoughtfully, and be willing to stretch to tackle something new. The only way you do become an expert is by breaking down a new project and working to master each of its component parts. It’s ok if you don’t know everything at the start, and to have self-doubts, but don’t ever let that stand in the way of tackling a new challenge.”
Nicole Wood
Title: Senior Director, State Advocacy
Organization: PhRMA
Virginia Chamber Board of Directors Member
Advice: “Keep an open mind to all the opportunities that you come across and never burn a bridge you don’t have to. You may find that what you thought you should be doing today, is not what you are meant to be doing tomorrow.”
Robyn Deyo Zacharias
Title: President & CEO
Organization: Yebo
Virginia Chamber Board of Directors Member
Advice: “I have learned that opportunity comes in many ways, you just have to be ready for it. Right now you may have a plan, but trust me things change. They always do. But when they do, look for the opportunity, be confident and seize the moment. Be willing to adapt and overcome.”
Virginia Chamber PAC Board of Directors Members:
Jennifer Webb
Title: Assistant Vice President Government Relations
Organization: Pacific Life Insurance Company
Virginia Chamber Political Action Committee Board of Directors Member
Advice: “My advice to young women just starting out their career is to be brave! If you don’t try than you don’t have a chance. Apply for ‘that job’ even if you don’t think you are qualified, you never know where it will lead.”
Morgan Whayland
Title: Director of Government Affairs
Organization: Virginia Natural Gas
Virginia Chamber Political Action Committee Board of Directors Member
Advice: “The importance of self-advocacy in the workplace. Mentors and supportive bosses are extremely valuable, but you cannot rely on others to put you forward for opportunities or address issues that are preventing you from excelling. You will always be your own best advocate. Take credit for great work, be proud of your achievements, and have the confidence to professionally address concerns with supervisors as they arise.”
Virginia Chamber Executive Committee Chairs:
Jennifer Baird
Title: Director, Community Impact
Organization: Altria Client Services
Virginia Chamber Workforce and Education Executive Committee Co-Chair
Advice: “As a former competitive gymnast, I was taught to always strive for perfection. Now, as a working mom with three young children, I have learned that perfection in every area of life isn’t always possible – sometimes just “good” is enough. Own what you do, act with purpose and confidence. And always be your best self-advocate!”
Dr. Dietra Trent
Title: Interim Vice President, Compliance, Diversity, and Ethics
Organization: George Mason University
Virginia Chamber Workforce and Education Executive Committee Co-Chair and former Deputy Secretary of Education and Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia
Advice: “My philosophy is: Leadership is not about title or position, rather it’s about posture. And only when you assume a posture to serve, can you add value to others and the world around you. In other words, when you keep your focus on serving – the title and position will follow.”
Karen Velkey
Title: Corporate Vice President, Compensation & Benefits
Organization: Huntington Ingalls Industries
Virginia Chamber Health Care Executive Committee Co-Chair
Advice: “I would encourage women starting out in their careers to seek out opportunities that allow them to work towards a goal that is bigger than themselves. Sometimes this means taking a more flexible approach to career progression than you’re comfortable with, and it definitely takes you out of your comfort zone, but at the end of the day you find your voice and know your true self”.
Virginia Chamber Members & Strategic Partners:
Jo Ann Bjornson
Title: SVP, Human Resources, Health Group
Organization: Leidos
Virginia Chamber Workforce and Education Executive Committee Member
Advice: “Throughout your career, you are going to have good times and bad times. Enter into every situation with eyes wide open, with curiosity and view everything as a learning opportunity. It will only make you wiser as you go along…”
Erin Cheely
Title: Director, Financial Planning & Analysis
Organization: Luck Companies
Virginia Chamber Business Climate Executive Committee Member
Advice: “Be eager to learn, have a vision for your career, and find other women to connect with.”
Ester Codina
Title: Senior VP Service and Marine
Organization: Alfa Laval
Virginia Chamber Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Executive Committee Member
Advice: “Don’t give up, don’t quit, keep fighting, don’t pause your career if want to succeed in it. Find a partner that can share your life projects with you (family, pets, dreams, you name it…), that is willing to see you as equal, helps you to pursue your opportunities and your dreams. Being in a manufacturing environments for many years, as a woman there are multiple biases you are dealing with on a daily base, making sure that none of them stops you and that you always see yourself as equal. Important, be yourself, be bold and speak up. In the professional world sometimes we tend the put people in boxes, push the boundaries of you own box is a good way to start.”
Sheila Dixon
Title: Executive Director
Organization: Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Chamber Member and Strategic Partner
Advice: “Stand confidently in your truth as you navigate the twists and turns of career aspirations, goals, and dreams. It’s coming!”
Dr. Charlotte Farmer
Title: Managing Director
Organization: MITRE
Virginia Chamber Innovation & Technology Executive Committee Member
Advice: “Always be in learning mode. Supported by open-mindedness and patience, listening and learning skills have made me a better problem-solver and decision maker. It’s okay to be impatient to get things done, but don’t be impatient about absorbing new ideas, different viewpoints, technological advances, market trends, sociological evolution, political forces, etc.”
Danielle Fitz-Hugh
Title: President & CEO
Organization: Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce
Member of the Virginia Chamber and Incoming Chair of the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (VACCE)
Advice: “The career climb is not a sprint it is a marathon of commitment to you work, to your calling, so it’s important to stay the course in order to get to the finish line.”
Deborah Kirk Flippo
Title: Economic Development Program Manager
Organization: Draper Aden Associates
Virginia Chamber Business Climate Executive Committee Member
Advice: “Show up, shut up (listen) and follow up! Do this without fail and you will stand out among your competition.”
Laura Worley Fornash
Title: Sr. VP, State Government Relations
Organization: McGuireWoods Consulting LLC
Virginia Chamber Member and Former Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia
Advice: “My advice for young professionals just starting their careers would be to say “yes” as often as possible to business and networking opportunities. Sometimes we don’t see the direct connection to an event or meeting to our current situation but those interactions often open doors and create introductions to opportunities that we hadn’t considered. Meeting others and being exposed to new and different people and experiences can provide rewarding opportunities often missed if simply looking for a direct connection to your immediate world and surroundings.”
Teresa Hammond
Title: Executive Director
Organization: Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Chamber Member
Advice: “Surround yourself with positive people to build your support group as you start out in your career. You will need them again and again along the way.”
Jennifer Ives
Title: SVP of Client Partnerships
Organization: 3Pillar Global
Virginia Chamber Innovation and Technology Executive Committee Member
Advice: “Own your career. Here’s the truth, no one cares about your career as much you do and if you place [your career] in someone else’s hands, you’ve lost control of it. It’s unlikely that your ideal career will be a straight path — or that it will be handed to you on a platter, so once you’ve figured out what you want, go for it. Own it.”
Kristen Royal
Title: Senior Manager, Sustainability
Organization: Sabra
Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Executive Committee Member
Advice: “Practice empathy and continue to build bridges even in areas you think can never be built. You can move mountains but trust yourself, stay curious and never be afraid to be your authentic self. Vulnerability when genuine can be very powerful”
My Lan Tran, CED, CVET, CTIS
Title: Executive Director
Organization: Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Chamber Alliance Member and Strategic Partner
Advice: “Think big. Be confident in your ability and smartness. But also be prepared to enter the market with research and watch mentors to gain insights. Also you may have mentors but at the end of the day you are on your own and still it’s the greatest on the job training – OJT- opportunity that life may have afforded you toward ultimate career and personal success and satisfaction.“
Natalie Williamson
Title: Vice President, Total Cost of Care Strategy – Mid Atlantic Region (DC, MD, VA, WV)
Organization: UnitedHealthcare
Virginia Chamber Health Care Executive Committee Member
Advice: “The one piece of advice I’d give to young women is to view their career as a long-term journey with multiple stops along the way, each an opportunity to learn and contribute as much as possible. If you find yourself in a position where you’re no longer learning, feeling challenged or that your contributions are not valued, those are likely signs you should be looking for your next destination.”
